In ringing half-pulls, some peals of changes will cut compass, wherein the whole Hunt comes always to lead at the back-stroke; to prevent which, make the first change of the peal at the back-stroke. In plain and single changes on six bells, to hunt (that is, whole Hunt) the Treble, third, or fifth, down at the beginning of a peal cuts compass, unless prevented as before. Also to hunt the second, fourth, or sixth up at the beginning of a peal, cuts compass, unless prevented as before. Which rules, leaving out the Tenor, serves in like manner to prevent cutting compass on five bells.
’Tis convenient in ringing, to give notice of the extream changes, and he that rings the slowest Hunt, may best do it. The manner of it is, to say Extream, when the leading bell is pulling down, in order to make the change next before the extream; by which means there will be one compleat change betwixt the warning and the extream: longer warning would be too much, and shorter too little.
The divers kinds of changes on Bells may be comprehended under two heads, viz. Plain Changes, and Cross Peals, which terms are comparatively given: for as the first are plain and easie only in comparison to the methods of the second; so consequently the second cross and intricate in comparison to the methods of the first. I will first shew in what respect they differ, and then proceed to the methods. Plain changes (I mean compleat peals) are such as have one universal method, wherein all the notes except three have a direct hunting course, moving gradually under each other in one plain and uniform order. But the methods of cross peals are various, each peal having a course differing from all others: and although most of them have Hunts, yet the Hunts have different kinds of motions, and some very intricate. Moreover plain changes are also term’d Single changes, because in the ringing of them there is only a single change made in the striking of all the notes once round either at fore-stroke or back-stroke; whereas in cross changes ’tis usual to make as many changes as the number of notes will permit. For example, supposing that a peal of 5 bells were raised, and rung at a Sett-pull; the notes are supposed to strike round in this order, 12345: now any two of the notes that strike next together may make a change, therefore either a single or a double change may be made at pleasure. The single change is made by changing only two notes; the double change is made by changing four notes, that is, two to make one change and two another, yet ’tis called one double change, and not two changes, in regard ’tis made in the striking of the five notes of the bells once round: as, admit the treble, second, third, and fourth, should make a change, ’tis thus to be done, 21435, where the Treble and Second made one change, and 3, 4 another; which we will imagine to be made at the fore-stroke of the bells, and therefore ’tis called one double change, and not two changes, because ’tis entirely made in the striking of the five notes once round. So that this one double change has effected that which would have required two single changes to have done the like. For instance, there can but two notes change their places at once in a single change, therefore the Treble and Second shall first change their places thus, 21345; then the third and fourth thus, 21435: so that here the five notes have gone twice round to effect that, which in the double change was done in going once round. And this is the nature of the difference between Plain and Cross changes.
As the Learner ought to proceed regularly in his practice, beginning first with the plainest and easiest methods. I will therefore observe that order, and first shew the course and methods of Plain changes.
The Changes on two Bells.
Two bells are capable to make only two changes, which is to be done by changing the notes twice, as in these figures.——
| 1 2 | |
| 2 1 | |
| 1 2 |
The Changes on three Bells.
There are six changes on three bells; which are made by this rule: the two first and two last notes must be changed by turns.
| 123 | |
| First the two first notes, which are 1 2 thus. | 213 |
| The two last, which are 1 3, thus. | 231 |
| The two first | 321 |
| The two last | 312 |
| The two first | 132 |
| The two last | 123 |